A LAGOS High Court, sitting in Igbosere Lagos, has issued a restrained order against the Nigerian police and civil defence in the management of 1004 Estates, Victoria Island, Lagos until the case before it is decided.
Also restrained are the leadership of residents’ association (HORA), Halogen Security and Tom Salam Guards, which were asked to maintain the status quo of control and management of the estate by 1004 Estates Limited.
Justice Candide-Johnson, also restrained HORA leaders from collecting any money on the estate including service and electricity charges.The Judge’s order was based on the application by 1004 Estates Limited to the court on the illegal occupation of the estate by Halogen Security and Tom Salam Security. The duo had been forcibly installed at gunpoint by armed mobile men of the Nigeria Police Force and 1004 HORA leaders without any order of court.
The 1004 Estates Limited is seeking to enjoy the latest order of the court, served the respondents: Halogen and Tom Salam Guards on site the order.
It claimed that 1004 Estates Ltd (company) was in the process of manning the estate security around the property with some of its security personnel and a few temporary men in order not to leave any security vacuum, when leaders of Hora and some of its supporters began to threaten the unarmed guards and invited the police and civil defense to evict the 1004 Estates guards on site.
“The several armed police led by the Divisional Police Officer and Civil Defence men once again forcibly at gunpoint chased out the 1004 guards and invaded the estate’s administrative office with-the residents and locked it up. “
Some of the staff of the company were allegedly arrested, while the keys of the administrative office was taken away and staff was ordered not to return to the office.
The DPO was also alleged to have posted two patrol vans with armed men at the building and the estates. 1004 Estates Ltd had published its previous petition to the inspector General of Police and also headed to court where it was granted the reprieve from the attempt to rob it of its lawful property and business.
Source: ngrguardiannews.com